I had Wheel Vintiques build these 8"X15" rims for me with a 5" backspace in 2005, they started rusting one year after I installed them. I don't drive in the rain, please look at the picture and tell me if I can do anything to stop the rusting, or Fix the chrome? Thanks Tim
Wow, that is more rust than I expected. Did you call Wheel Vintiques to see where they get their chrome rimshells from? Curt McKim built my wheels and the rimshells came from Canada. No rust on mine though I try not to drive in the rain. I would try Never Dull on the wheels and see if that gets off the surface rust.
Id spray that crevice with a rust preventative. I like Gibbs Brand http://www.gibbsbrand.net/automotiveuses.html WD40 will evaporate and fade, so what ever you use make sure it does not evaporate. You can spray it in there and wipe most off but it will remain in the small spaces Its almost as if the wheel center was welded in after the rim shell was chromed. As the weld all the way around is rusting. Should have been chromed after welding providing protection over the welded area. ---------- Post added at 04:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:36 PM ---------- Actually the more I look at the pix, its not where the rim shell is welded to the center... I change my diagnosis to a very bad chrome job. But Id still recommend Gibbs, it will clean the rust off and stay in any open pores that are rusting to prevent further corrosion.
I don't know if this would work or not, but I'd clean up the rust as gently as possibly, then slather it all in car wax. That's what I'd be trying for right or wrong.
Pertty common area for thoes wheels to rust. Curtis is right about protecting it. You could also try a really fine steel wool then keep it waxed.
You might try Eagle 1 chrome cleaner. This is a mild acid which will remove the rust, 0000 steel wool would probably help the Eagle 1. After cleaning Try this http://www.pitstopinternational.com/chrome-guard.html or a good wax. You will have to get the wax into the seam between the wheel sections. The Chrome guard is a liquid spray and lasts for months. Every time I wash the wheels the water really beads up. You should check with the supplier of the wheels to see if there is anything they can do for you.
Wheel Vintique wheels are absolute junk. Google "Wheel vintiques rusting" and see all the results. They'll rust in a clean, dry garage. Dont bother calling the company because they'll blame it on acid rain, the tides, full moons, anything except they're crappy chinese chrome. Im sorry I bought my set.
X2. I polished mine up once I got them mounted and imediately started having issues with them sitting in the garage, brand new never driven. Called them....got the run around. Got mine in 05 i think it was. Don't know if they have changed anything since. Steve
i too purchased wheels from wheel vintiques. i agree with the poor chrome job. i have one rim that has a small rusting spot.
I have 4 Wheel Vintiques wheels, and none of them are rusting. They were bought around 10 years ago though. They are probably using a cheaper source to chrome them, and you see the results.
I noticed that as well. The wheels I bought in 2002 are much better. Cheaper source, higher price. :moonu:
Wheel Vintiques:af::blast: I bought 4 of those back in 1996 and they all 4 rusted to the point I had to get some more in just a few years..NOT from Wheel Vintiques. Junk.
My wheels started rusting 6 months after I bought them so I called Wheel Vintiques to complain, he asked if I waxed the wheels and when I told him I did he said that is why they are rusting, the wax holds the moisture in....he then said they could not help me. What a bunch of crap!!! Great customer service.....WTF The chrome is very, very thin. I will try some of your ideas, thanks for the help. Tim
Awesome loaded question, they have their customer service down pat! ou: "Did you wax them?" "Yes." "That is the problem, the wax traps the moisture in." "Did you wax them?" "No." "That is the problem, without wax moisture gets to the metal and rusts it." "Did you wax them?" "Only two of them, and all four are rusting." " :error:"
Yep, you got it. Same customer service response BS I got....Apparently that darn wax is really bad for wheels.....ou:
I must be the only Wheel Vintiques customer with wheels that haven't rusted. I have always waxed them, and kept them clean. My car is in a garage that doesn't have any wild temperature swings, so absolutely no condensation problems. Maybe I'm just lucky?
Try 00 steel wool and WD-40 to clean up the rust. It'll remove it without gross scratches. You'll need some sort of protective after that. I usually use wax. So, I'm not sure what you should use on them for protection.
Once you clean up the rust on your rims you need to use a rust converter to stop future rust from occurring in the areas of concerns. Some converters change the rusted surface areas black others do not. Wax and regular chrome and/or metal cleaners WILL NOT stop rust that has surfaced already!
